- William Apess, "An Indian's Looking-Glass for the White Man" (1833)
Congress passes Indian Removal Act, legalizing removal of eastern Indians to west of the Mississippi (1830)
Cherokees travel the Trail of Tears (1838-39)

1840s

Mexican War; Southwest is ceded to the United States (1846-48)
Bureau of Indian Affairs shifts from War Department to the Department of the Interior (1849)
California Gold Rush (1849)

1850s

- John Rollin Ridge (Yellow Bird), The Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta, the Celebrated California Bandit (1854)
United States war against Plains Indians (1854)

1860s

Standing Bear court case establishes that Indians are "persons within the meaning of the law" (1868)

1870s

- Cochise, "[I am alone]" (1872)
- Charlot, "[He has filled graves with our bones]" (1876)
- Lorenzo Asisara, "Punishment"' (1877, 1890)
Congress appropriates first sum earmarked for federal administration of Indian education (1870)
Congress passes a law putting an end to further treaties with Indian tribes (1871)
General Custer and his Seventh Cavalry defeated by Sioux and Cheyenne in Battle of Little Big Horn (1876)
Congress appropriates first funds for Indian police (1878)
Carlisle Indian School founded (1879)